Transcript Executive Branch PP

The Executive Branch
The Executive Branch
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Enforces the laws
Head of Executive Branch is the President
– Can make quick decisions in crucial situations
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Both Congress and courts take time to get things done
The President
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Article II of the Constitution
– “take care that the laws be faithfully
executed”
– “preserve, protect, and defend the
Constitution of the United States”
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No titles of Nobility
– “Mr. President” only
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$400,000 per year
Qualifications for the
President
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Article II, Section 1
– Must be 35 years old
– Must be a “natural born citizen”
– Must have been a resident of the US for at least
14 years
Vice President
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Same qualifications as President
No term limits
The Constitution called for the runner up in the electoral
college to become VP
– Changed by 12th amendment
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Specific Duties enumerated in the Constitution
– Successor to Presidency, Presides over Senate
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Other duties (not listed)
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Chairman of the Board of NASA
Member of board for Smithsonian
Advisor to President
Spokesman for Administration
Most feel that it is a thankless and powerless role
– John Adams – “most insignificant office…ever…conceived…”
– John Nance Garner – “The Vice Presidency is not worth a bucket
of warm spit”
Electing a President –
Primary Elections
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Each political party selects one candidate to
run
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To maximize their power
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Candidates try to win delegates from each
state to represent them at the Party’s
nominating convention
Each party announces their candidate at the
nominating convention
Most political parities hold Primary Elections
to determine who their candidate will be
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Each party has slightly different rules
In 2008 the Republicans chose John McCain,
the Green Party chose Cynthia McKinney,
Libertarians chose Bob Barr, etc.
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23 candidates for president from various
parties, independents, and write-in candidates
Bob Barr – Libertarian
Presidential hopeful
The Electoral College
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Article II, Sec. 1
Each STATE votes for
president
– the people in each
state vote to tell their
state who to vote for
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Vote for electors
pledged to vote for
a certain candidate
Each state’s number of
electors is the total
number of Senators
and Representatives
from each state
A candidate needs 270
electoral votes to win
(a majority)
– 538 total electors
The Electoral College
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“Faithless Electors”
– 157 cases
– None has ever changed the outcome of
an election
– 24 states have laws punishing faithless
electors
– Most recent case was in 2004 where a
Minnesota elector voted for John Edwards
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apparently accidentally
Term Limits
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Elected to a 4 year
term
FDR is the only
president to serve
more than 2 terms (4
from 1933-45)
Two term limit as of
1951
– 22nd amendment
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Can serve 10 years
total (no more than 2
years of another’s
term)
Roles of The President
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The President serves in the
following roles:
– Chief Executive
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Enforce the laws
Makes crucial decisions
– Head of State
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Represents the United
States
Speaks for all the People
– Commander in Chief
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Controls armed forces
– Chief Diplomat
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Handles our foreign policy
Derived from Article II,
Sections 2-4
Head of State
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Represents the United States
at functions or ceremonies
Awards medals & honors,
makes speeches
– Usually does not write or
memorize his own speeches
– Employs staff speech writers
whom he directs, advises,
and revises with
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The most visible part of
government
Speaks for all the people,
since everyone votes for the
President
Commander and Chief
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Commander and Chief of
the Armed Forces
– Commands over 1 million
military personnel
– Authorizes the use of
troops overseas
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Can command troops to
mobilize at a moment’s
notice
Authorizes the use of the
National Guard to keep the
peace/enforce the laws at
home
Congress can refuse to fund
a military mission if it does
not consider it worthwhile
Chief Diplomat
Chief Diplomat
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Makes treaties with other
nations
– The Senate must approve
any treaty before it
becomes official
Nominates ambassadors
– Needs Senate approval
Receives ambassadors from
other nations
May make executive
agreements (like a treaty) that
function as law without
congressional consent
– Congress can nullify it by
passing legislation of its
own
Barack Obama with British Prime
Minister Gordon Brown
The President and
Legislation
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President cannot make a law
Presents his agenda in the State of the Union
address to Congress
Recommends legislation to Congress
– When a President is elected he can make the
argument that the majority of Americans want
his agenda passed
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The only official that represents all Americans
– But, CAN NOT introduce a bill
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Convenes both houses of Congress in special joint session
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Only happened 27 times, last time was in 1948 when Harry Truman
called Congress into session to pass his legislative agenda
Approves laws passed by Congress
– Has 10 days to sign or veto
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If president fails to sign bill within 10 days and Congress is in session, it
becomes a law anyway
– If congress is not in session the bill is vetoed indirectly (“Pocket Veto”)
The President and the
Economy
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Gets credit/blame for the
economy, but… DOES NOT
CONTROL THE ECONOMY!
Reacts to economy
– Some of his proposed legislation
can help or hurt the economy
– Monitors unemployment,
taxation, business, and general
economic welfare of the US
The Presidential Cabinet
The Presidential Cabinet
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Comprised of heads of
each executive
department
Other advisors
Advise and work with
the President
Not outlined in
Constitution
– George Washington
created the first cabinet
comprised of
Departments of War,
State, and Treasury
Executive Departments
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President Obama has 15 departments
including Homeland Security, Labor,
Education, Defense, Agriculture, etc.
Help the President carry out,
enforce, or execute the laws
Keep the President informed on matters in
their jurisdiction
Can suggest legislation to President
“The administrative arms of the President”
Executive Powers
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Execute laws
– Use of National Guard if
necessary
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MAKES DECISIONS
– Becomes hero or
scapegoat
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Appoints ambassadors,
judges, cabinet
members
Can request written
opinions and reports
from executive officials
Checks and Balances
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On the Legislative Branch (Congress)
– Can Veto Bills proposed by Congress
– Can convene special sessions of Congress
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Only happened 27 times, last time was in 1948 when
Harry Truman called Congress into session to pass his
legislative agenda
– Vice President presides over the Senate
Checks and Balances
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On the Judiciary (Courts)
– Can appoint
Federal/Supreme Court
judges
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Must be approved by Congress
– Grant pardons for Federal
Crimes (except
impeachments)
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President Bush granted 189
pardons
Can also commute (reduce)
sentences (11)
Federalism
State of Indiana
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Chief executive is called the Governor
State police are the most visible arm
of the executive branch
– Enforce Indiana laws
Federalism
City of Valparaiso
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Chief executive for local government is
called the Mayor
Valparaiso Police Dept. and Porter
County Sheriffs Dept.